Image-forming method employing light-sensitive material containing silver halide, reducing agent and a mixture of polymerizable compounds

ABSTRACT

An image-forming method which comprises: 
     imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material comprising a light-sensitive layer provided on a support wherein the light-sensitive layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and a mixture of at least two polymerizable compounds to form a latent image of the silver halide; 
     simultaneously or thereafter developing the light-sensitive material to polymerize the mixture of the polymerizable compounds within the area where the latent image of the silver halide has been formed; and 
     pressing the light-sensitive material on an image-receiving material to transfer the unpolymerized mixture of the polymerizable compounds to the image-receiving material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an image-forming method utilizing a light-sensitive material comprising a light-sensitive layer containing silver halide, a reducing agent and a polymerizable compound provided on a support.

2. Description of Prior Arts

Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 45(1970)-11149 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,275), 47(1972)-20741 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,667) and 49(1974)-10697, and Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 57(1982)-138632, 57(1982)-142638, 57(1982)-176033, 57(1982)-211146 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,997), 58(1983)-107529 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,637), 58(1983)-121031 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,450) and 58(1983)-169143 describe image-forming methods utilizing light-sensitive materials comprising a light-sensitive layer containing silver halide, a reducing agent and a polymerizable compound provided on a support. In these image forming methods, when the exposed silver halide is developed using a developing solution, the polymerizable compound is induced to polymerize in the presence of a reducing agent (which is oxidized) to form a polymer image. Thus, these methods need a wet development process employing a developing solution. Therefore, the process takes a relatively long time for the operation.

An improved image forming method employing a dry process is described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 61(1986)-69062 and 61(1986)-73145 (the contents of both publications are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,676 and European Patent Provisional Publication No. 0174634A2). In this image forming method, a recording material (i.e., light-sensitive material) comprising a light-sensitive layer containing a light-sensitive silver salt (i.e., silver halide), a reducing agent, a cross-linkable compound (i.e., polymerizable compound) and a binder provided on a support is imagewise exposed to form a latent image, and then the material is heated to polymerize within the area where the latent image of the silver halide has been formed. The above method employing the dry process and the light-sensitive material employable for such method are also described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 61(1986)-183640, 61(1986)-188535 and 61(1986)-228441 (the content of the three publications are shown in U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 827,702).

The above-mentioned image forming methods are based on the principle in which the polymerizable compound is polymerized within the area where a latent image of the silver halide has been formed.

Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-260241 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 854,640) describes another image forming method in which the polymerizable compound within the area where a latent image of the silver halide has not been formed is polymerized. In this method, when the material is heated, the reducing agent functions as polymerization inhibitor within the area where a latent image of the silver halide has been formed, and the polymerizable compound in the other portion is polymerized.

Further, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-73145 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,676 and European Patent Provisional Publication No. 0174634A2) describes an embodiment of the image-forming methods which comprises: imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material comprising a light-sensitive layer provided on a support wherein the light-sensitive layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and a polymerizable compound; simultaneously or thereafter developing the light-sensitive material; and pressing the light-sensitive material on an image-receiving material to transfer the unpolymerized polymerizable compound to the image-receiving material.

The above-mentioned methods are favorably employable for forming a clear image on the image-receiving material. However, it has been sometimes noted that an unevenness of the density of the image occurs under certain transference conditions within the area onto which the polymerizable compound should be evenly transferred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an image-forming method which gives an improved clear transference image.

There is provided by the present invention an image-forming method which comprises:

imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material comprising a light-sensitive layer provided on a support wherein the light-sensitive layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and a mixture of at least two polymerizable compounds to form a latent image of the silver halide;

simultaneously or thereafter developing the light-sensitive material to polymerize the mixture of the polymerizable compounds within the area where the latent image of the silver halide has been formed (or the area where the latent image of the silver halide has not been formed); and

pressing the light-sensitive material on an image-receiving material to transfer the unpolymerized mixture of the polymerizable compounds to the image-receiving material.

The image-forming method of the invention is characterized in employing a mixture of at least two polymerizable compounds having different chemical structure.

The present inventor has found that the image-forming method employing the mixture of different polymerizable compounds can give an improved clear transference image which is reduced in the occurrence of the unevenness of the density.

In the above-mentioned image-forming method, the polymerizable compound is polymerized corresponding to the quantity of light, the amount of the unpolymerized compound which should be transferred to the image-receiving material is controled by the degree of the polymerization, and thus the transference image is obtained corresponding to the quantity of light. In the case that only one kind of the polymerizable compound is employed, the polymerization character of the polymerizable compound is susceptible to the influence of variation of the conditions in the process, even if the variation occurs slightly. Therefore, the degree of the polymerization may vary within the area which has been irradiated with the same quantity of the light, and as a result, the unevenness of the density occurs in the transference image.

In the image-forming method of the invention, the polymerization property of the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is hardly susceptible to the influence of the variation of the processing condition, because the polymerization properties of the polymerizable compounds are buffered by each other in the mixture. Therefore, the image-forming method of the invention can give an improved clear transference image in which occurrence of the unevenness of the density is minimized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is no specific limitation with respect to the polymerizable compound, and any known polymerizable compounds including monomers, oligomers and polymers can be contained in the light-sensitive layer. In the case that heat development (i.e., thermal development) is utilized for developing the light-sensitive material, the polymerizable compounds having a relatively higher boiling point (e.g., 80° C. or higher) that are hardly evaporated upon heating are preferably employed. In the case that the light-sensitive layer contains a color image forming substance, the polymerizable compounds are preferably cross-linkable compounds having plural polymerizable groups in the molecule, because such cross-linkable compounds favorably serve for fixing the color image forming substance in the course of polymerization hardening of the polymerizable compounds.

Preferred polymerizable compounds employable for the light-sensitive material are compounds which are polymerizable through addition reaction or ring-opening reaction. Preferred examples of the compounds being polymerizable through addition reaction include compounds having an ethylenic unsaturated group. Preferred examples of the compounds being polymerizable through ring-opening reaction include the compounds having an epoxy group. Among them, the compounds having an ethylenic unsaturated group are preferred.

Examples of compounds having an ethylenic unsaturated group include acrylic acid, salts of acrylic acid, acrylic esters, acrylamides, methacrylic acid, salts of methacrylic acid, methacrylic esters, methacrylamide, maleic anhydride, maleic esters, itaconic esters, styrene, styrene derivatives, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, N-vinyl heterocyclic compounds, allyl ethers, allyl esters, and compounds carrying a group or groups corresponding to one or more of these compounds.

The image-forming method of the invention employs a mixture of these polymerizable compounds. In the case that the polymerizable compounds are compounds having an ethylenic unsaturated group, each of the compounds preferably differs in the number of the unsaturated group. Further, a compound having 2-4 ethylenic unsaturated groups are preferably contained in the mixture of the polymerizable compounds in an amount of from 40 to 90 weight %. More preferably, the remaining 10 to 60 weight % of the mixture is a compound having one ethylenic unsaturated group and/or that having 5 or more ethylenic unsaturated groups.

Concrete examples of the compound having one ethylenic unsaturated group in the molecule include n-butyl acrylate, cycrohexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, benzyl acrylate, furfuryl acrylate, ethoxyethoxyethyl acrylate, dicyclohexyloxyethyl acrylate, nonylphenyloxyethyl acrylate, phenoxyethoxyethyl acrylate, polyethylene oxide monoacrylate, nonylphenoxypolypropylene oxide monoacrylate, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, stylene and vinyl acetate. Among them, ethoxyethoxyethyl acrylate, nonylphenyloxyethyl acrylate and nonylphenoxypolypropylene oxide monoacrylate are preferred.

Concrete examples of the compound having two ethylenic unsaturate groups in the molecule include etylene glycol diacrylate, triproplene glycol diacrylate, butanediol diacrylate, neopentylglycol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, diacrylate of polyoxyethylene, diacrylate of polyoxypropylene, diacrylate of polyethylenated bisphenol A, diacrylate of oligoester, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, butanediol dimethacrylate, neopentylglycol dimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, dimethacrylate of polyoxyethylenated bisphenol A, divinylbenzene, allylacrylate, diacrylamide of ethylenediamine, diacrylate of 1,3-propanediamine and diacrylamide of diethylenetriamine. Among them, tripropyleneglycol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, diacrylate of polyoxypropylene and diacrylate of polyoxyethylenated bisphenol A are preferred.

Concrete examples of the compound having three ethylenic unsaturate groups in the molecule include trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, triacrylate of polyoxyethylenated trimethylolpropane, triacrylate of polyoxypropylenated trimethylolpropane, triacrylate of N,N',N"-trihydroxyethyl-1,3,5-triadine-2-4-6-trione, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol trimethacrylate, glycerine triacrylate and triacrylate of polyoxyethylenated glycerine. Among them, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, triacrylate of polyoxypropylenated trimethylolpropane and triacrylate of N,N',N"-trihydroxyethyl-1,3,5-triadine-2,4,6-trione are preferred.

Concrete examples of the compound having four ethylenic unsaturate groups in the molecule include pentaerythritol tetraacrylate and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate. Among them, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate is preferred.

Concrete examples of the compound having five or more ethylenic unsaturate groups in the molecule include dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, polyacrylate of polyhydroxyoligoester, polyacrylate of polyhydroxyoligourethane, dipentaerythritol pentamethacrylate and dipentaerythritol hexamethacrylate. Among them, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate and polyacrylate of polyhydroxyoligoester are preferred.

Further, compounds formed by bonding a polymerizable group such as a vinyl group or a vinylidene group to a reducing agent or a color image forming substance are also employed as the polymerizable compounds. The light-sensitive materials employing a mixture containing these compounds which show functions as both the reducing agent and the polymerizable compound, or of the color image forming substance and the polymerizable compound are included in embodiments of the invention.

The amount of the mixture of the polymerizable compounds for incorporation into the light-sensitive layer preferably ranges from 5 to 1.2×10⁵ times (by weight) as much as the amount of silver halide, more preferably from 10 to 1×10⁴ times as much as the silver halide.

The light-sensitive material which can be used for the image-forming method of the invention are described below. The light-sensitive material used in the invention comprises a light-sensitive layer containing silver halide, a reducing agent and the above-mentioned mixture of the polymerizable compounds provided on a support. Thus composed material is referred hereinafter to as "light-sensitive material".

There is no specific limitation with respect to silver halide contained in the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material.

Examples of the silver halides include as silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodide, silver iodobromide, and silver chloroiodobromide in the form of grains.

The halogen composition of individual grains may be homogeneous or heterogeneous. The heterogeneous grains having a multilayered structure in which the halogen composition varies from the core to the outer shell (see Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 57(1982)-154232, 58(1983)-108533, 59(1984)-48755 and 59(1984)-52237, U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,048, and European Patent No. 100,984) can be employed.

There is no specific limitation on the crystal habit of silver halide grains. Two or more kinds of silver halide grains which differ in halogen composition, crystal habit, grain size, and/or other features from each other can be used in combination. There is no specific limitation on grain size distribution of silver halide grains. The silver halide grains ordinarily have a mean size of 0.001 to 5 μm, more preferably 0.001 to 2 μm.

The total silver content (including silver halide and an organic silver salt which is one of optional components) in the light-sensitive layer preferably is in the range of from 0.1 mg/m² to 10 g/m². The silver content of the silver halide in the light-sensitive layer preferably is not more than 0.1 g/m², more preferably in the range of from 1 mg to 90 mg/m².

The reducing agent employed in the light-sensitive material has a function of reducing the silver halide and/or a function of accelerating or restraining a polymerization of the polymerizable compound. Examples of the reducing agents having these functions include various compounds, such as hydroquinones, catechols, p-amino-phenols, p-phenylenediamines, 3-pyrazolidones, 3-amino-pyrazoles, 4-amino-5-pyrazolones, 5-aminouracils, 4,5-dihydroxy-6-aminopyrimidines, reductones, aminoreductones, o- or p-sulfonamidophenols, o- or p-sulfonamidonaphthols, 2-sulfonamidoindanones, 4-sulfonamido-5-pyrazolones, 3-sulfonamidoindoles, sulfonamidopyrazolobenzimidazoles, sulfonamidopyrazolotriazoles, α-sulfonamidoketones, hydrazines, etc. Depending on the nature or amount of the reducing agent, the polymerizable compound within either an area where a latent image of the silver halide has been formed or an area where a latent image of the silver halide has not been formed can be polymerized. In the developing system in which the polymerizable compound within the area where the latent image has not been formed is polymerized, 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone is preferably employed as the reducing agent.

The light-sensitive materials employing the reducing agent having these functions (including compounds referred to as developing agent or hydrazine derivative) are described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publications Nos. 61(1986)-183640, 61(1986)-188535 and 61(1986)-228441, and Japanese Patent Application Nos. 60(1985)-210657, 60(1985)-226084, 60(1985)-227527 and 60(1985)-227528. These reducing agents are also described in T. James, "The Theory of the Photographic Process", 4th edition, 291-334 (1977), Research Disclosure No. 17029, 9-15 (June 1978), and Research Disclosure No. 17643, 22-31 (December 1978). The reducing agents described in the these publications and applications can be employed in the light-sensitive material of the present invention. Thus, "the reducing agent(s)" in the present specification means to include all of the reducing agents described in the above mentioned publications and applications.

These reducing agents can be used singly or in combination. In the case that two or more reducing agents are used in combination, certain interactions between these reducing agents may be expected. One of the interactions is for acceleration of reduction of the silver halide (and/or an organic silver salt) through so-called superadditivity. Other interaction is for a chain reaction in which an oxidized state of one reducing agent formed by a reduction of silver halide (and/or an organic silver salt) induces or inhibits the polymerization of the polymerizable compound via oxidation-reduction reaction with other reducing agent. Both interactions may occur simultaneously. Thus, it is difficult to determine which of the interactions has occurred in practical use.

Examples of these reducing agents include pentadecylhydroquinone, 5-t-butylcatechol, p-(N,N-diethylamino)phenol, 1-phenyl-4-methyl-4-hydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-4-methyl-4-heptadecylcarbonyloxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 2-phenylsulfonylamino-4-hexadecyloxy-5-t-octylphenol, 2-phenylsulfonylamino-4-t-butyl-5-hexadecyloxyphenol, 2-(N-butylcarbamoyl)-4-phenylsulfonylaminonaphtol, 2-(N-methyl-N-octadecylcarbamoyl)-4-sulfonylaminonaphthol, 1-acetyl-2-phenylhydrazine, 1-acetyl-2-(p- or o-aminophenyl)hydrazine, 1-formyl-2-(p- or o-aminophenyl)hydrazine, 1-acetyl-2-(p- or o-methoxyphenyl)hydrazine, 1-lauroyl-2-(p- or o-aminophenyl)hydrazine, 1-trityl-2-(2,6-dichloro-4-cyanophenyl)hydrazine, 1-trityl-2-phenylhydrazine, 1-phenyl-2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)hydrazine, 1-{2-(2,5-di-tert-pentylphenoxy)butyloyl}-2-(p- or o-aminophenyl)hydrazine, 1-{2-(2,5-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butyloyl}-2-(p- or o-aminophenyl)hydrazine pentadecylfluorocaprylate salt, 3-indazolinone, 1-(3,5-dichlorobenzoyl)-2-phenylhydrazine, 1-trityl-2-[{(2-N-butyl-N-octylsulfamoyl)-4-methanesulfonyl}phenyl]hydrazine, 1-{4-(2,5-di-tert-pentylphenoxy)butyloyl}-2-(p- or o-methoxyphenyl)hydrazine, 1-(methoxycarbonylbenzohydryl)2-phenylhydrazine, 1-formyl-2-[4-{2-(2,4-di-tert-pentylphenoxy)butylamide}phenyl]hydrazine, 1-acetyl-2-[4-{ 2-(2,4-di-tert-pentylphenoxy)butylamido}phenyl]hydrazine, 1-trityl-2-[{2,6-dichloro-4-(N,N-di-2-ethylhexyl)carbamoyl}phenyl]hydrazine, 1-(methoxycarbonylbenzohydryl)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)hydrazine and 1-trityl-2-[{2-(N-ethyl-N-octylsulfamoyl)-4-methanesulfonyl}phenyl]hydrazine.

The amount of the reducing agent in the light-sensitive layer preferably ranges from 0.1 to 1,500 mole % based on the amount of silver (contained in the above-mentioned silver halide and an organic silver salt).

The light-sensitive material can be prepared by arranging a light-sensitive layer containing the above-mentioned components on a support. There is no limitation with respect to the support. In the case that heat development is utilized in the use of the light-sensitive material, the material of the support preferably is resistant to heat given in the processing stage. Examples of the material employable for the preparation of the support include glass, paper, fine paper, coat paper, synthetic paper, metals and analogues thereof, polyester, acetyl cellulose, cellulose ester, polyvinyl acetal, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, and paper laminated with resin or polymer (e.g., polyethylene).

Various embodiments of the light-sensitive materials, optional components which may be contained in the light sensitive layer, and auxiliary layers which may be optionally arranged on the light-sensitive materials are described below.

The mixture of the polymerizable compounds is preferably dispersed in the form of oil droplets in the light-sensitive layer. Other components in the light-sensitive layer, such as silver halide, the reducing agent, the color image forming substances may be also contained in the oil droplets.

The oil droplets of the mixture of the polymerizable compounds are preferably prepared in the form of microcapsules. There is no specific limitation on preparation of the microcapsules. There is also no specific limitation on shell material of the microcapsule, and various known materials such as polymers which are employed in the conventional microcapsules can be employed as the shell material. The mean size of the microcapsule preferably ranges from 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 1 to 25 μm, most preferably 3 to 20 μm.

The light-sensitive layer can further contain optional components such as color image forming substances, sensitizing dyes, organic silver salts, various kinds of image formation accelerators, thermal polymerization inhibitors, thermal polymerization initiators, development stopping agents, fluorescent brightening agents, discoloration inhibitors, antihalation dyes or pigments, antiirradiation dyes or pigments, matting agents, antismudging agents, plasticizers, water releasers and binders.

There is no specific limitation with respect to the color image forming substance, and various kinds of substances can be employed. Thus, examples of the color image forming substance include both colored substance (i.e., dyes and pigments) and non-colored or almost noncolored substance (i.e., color former or dye- or pigment-precursor) which develops to give a color under application of external energy (e.g., heating, pressing, light irradiation, etc.) or by contact with other components (i.e., developer). The light-sensitive material using the color image forming substance is described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-73145.

Examples of the dyes and pigments (i.e., colored substances) employable in the invention include commercially available ones, as well as various known compounds described in the technical publications, e.g., Yuki Gosei Kagaku Kyokai (ed.), Handbook of Dyes (in Japanese, 1970) and Nippon Ganryo Gijutsu Kyokai (ed.), New Handbook of Pigments (in Japanese, 1977). These dyes and pigments can be used in the form of a solution or a dispersion.

Examples of the substances which develop to give a color by certain energy includes thermochromic compounds, piezochromic compounds, photochromic compounds and leuco compounds derived from triarylmethane dyes, quinone dyes, indigoid dyes, azine dyes, etc. These compounds are capable of developing a color by heating, application of pressure, light-irradiation or air-oxidation.

Examples of the substances which develop to give a color in contact with other components include various compounds capable of developing a color through some reaction between two or more components, such as acid-base reaction, oxidation-reduction reaction, coupling reaction, chelating reaction, and the like. Examples of such color formation systems are described in Hiroyuki Moriga, "Introduction of Chemistry of Speciality Paper" (in Japanese, 1975), 29-58 (pressure-sensitive copying paper), 87-95 (azo-graphy), 118-120 (heat-sensitive color formation by a chemical change) or in MSS. of the seminer promoted by the Society of Kinki Chemical Industry, "The Newest Chemistry of Coloring Matter--Attractive Application and New Development as a Functional Coloring Matter", 26-32 (June 19, 1980). Examples of the color formation systems specifically include a color formation system used in pressure-sensitive papers, etc., comprising a color former having a partial structure of lactone, lactam, spiropyran, etc., and an acidic substance (developer), e.g., acid clay, phenol, etc.; a system utilizing azo-coupling reaction between an aromatic a diazonium salt, diazotate or diazosulfonate and naphthol, aniline, active methylene, etc.; a system utilizing a chelating reaction, such as a reaction between hexamethylenetetramine and a ferric ion and gallic acid, or a reaction between a phenolphthalein-complexon and an alkaline earth metal ion; a system utilizing oxidation-reduction reaction, such as a reaction between ferric stearate and pyrogallol, or a reaction between silver behenate and 4-methoxy-1-naphthol, etc.

The color image forming substance in the light-sensitive material is preferably used in an amount of from 0.5 to 50 parts by weight, and more preferably from 2 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the mixture of the polymerizable compounds. In the case that the developer is used, it is preferably used in an amount of from about 0.3 to about 80 parts by weight per one part by weight of the color former.

There is no specific limitation with respect to the sensitizing dyes, and known sensitizing dyes used in the conventional art of photography may be employed in the light-sensitive material. Examples of the sensitizing dyes include methine dyes, cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, complex cyanine dyes, complex merocyanine dyes, holopolar cyanine dyes, hemicyanine dyes, styryl dyes, and hemioxonol dyes. These sensitizing dyes can be used singly or in combination. Combinations of sensitizing dyes are often used for the purpose of supersensitization. In addition to the sensitizing dyes, a substance which does not per se exhibit spectral sensitization effect or does not substantially absorb visible light but shows supersensitizing activity can be used. The amount of the sensitizing dye to be added generally ranges from about 10⁻⁸ to about 10⁻² mol per 1 mol of silver halide.

The sensitizing dye is preferably added during the stage of the preparation of the silver halide emulsion.

When the heat development is employed in the use of the light-sensitive material, an organic silver salt is preferably contained in the light-sensitive material. It can be assumed that the organic silver salt takes part in a redox reaction using a silver halide latent image as a catalyst when heated to a temperature of 80° C. or higher. In such case, the silver halide and the organic silver salt preferably are located in contact with each other or close together. Examples of organic compounds employable for forming such organic silver salt include aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, thiocarbonyl group-containing compounds having a mercapto group or an α-hydrogen atom, imino group-containing compounds, and the like. Among them, benzotriazoles are most preferable. The organic silver salt is preferably used in an amount of from 0.01 to 10 mol., and preferably from 0.01 to 1 mol., per 1 mol. of the light-sensitive silver halide. Instead of the organic silver salt, an organic compound (e.g., benzotriazole) which can form an organic silver salt in combination with an inorganic silver salt can be added to the light-sensitive layer to obtain the same effect.

Various image formation accelerators are employable in the light-sensitive material. The image formation accelerators have a function to accelerate the oxidation-reduction reaction between a silver halide (and/or an organic silver salt) and a reducing agent, a function to accelerate emigration of an image forming substance from a light-sensitive layer to an image-receiving material or an image-receiving layer, or a silimar function. The image formation accelerators can be classified into inorganic bases, organic bases, base precursors, oils, surface active agents, hot-melt solvents, and the like. These groups, however, generally have certain combined functions, i.e., two or more of the above-mentioned effects. Thus, the above classification is for the sake of convenience, and one compound often has a plurality of functions combined.

Various examples of these image formation accelerators are shown below.

Preferred examples of the inorganic bases include hydroxides of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals; secondary or tertiary phosphates, borates, carbonates, quinolinates and metaborates of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals; a combination of zinc hydroxide or zinc oxide and a chelating agent (e.g., sodium picolinate); ammonium hydroxide; hydroxides of quaternary alkylammoniums; and hydroxides of other metals. Preferred examples of the organic bases include aliphatic amines (e.g., trialkylamines, hydroxylamines and aliphatic polyamines); aromatic amines (e.g., N-alkyl-substituted aromatic amines, N-hydroxylalkyl-substituted aromatic amines and bis[p-(dialkylamino)phenyl]-methanes), heterocyclic amines, amidines, cyclic amidines, guanidines, and cyclic guanidines. Of these bases, those having a pKa of 7 or more are preferred.

The base precursors preferably are those capable of releasing bases upon reaction by heating, such as salts between bases and organic acids capable of decarboxylation by heating, compounds capable of releasing amines through intramolecular nucleophilic substitution, Lossen rearrangement, or Beckmann rearrangement, and the like; and those capable of releasing bases by electrolysis. Preferred examples of the base precursors include guanidine trichloroacetate, piperidine trichloroacetate, morpholine trichloroacetate, p-toluidine trichloroacetate, 2-picoline trichloroacetate, guanidine phenylsulfonylacetate, guanidine 4-chlorophenylsulfonylacetate, guanidine 4-methyl-sulfonylphenylsulfonylacetate, and 4-acetylaminomethyl propionate.

These bases or base precursors are preferably used in an amount of not more than 100% by weight, and more preferably from 0.1 to 40% by weight, based on the total solid content of the light-sensitive layer. These bases or base precursors can be used singly or in combination.

Examples of the oils employable in the invention include high-boiling organic solvents which are used as solvents in emulsifying and dispersing hydrophobic compounds.

Examples of the surface active agents employable in the invention include pyridinium salts, ammonium salts and phosphonium salts as described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 59(1984)-74547; polyalkylene oxides as described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 59(1984)-57231.

The hot-melt solvents preferably are compounds which may be used as solvent of the reducing agent or those which have high dielectric constant and can accelerate physical development of silver salts. Examples of the hot-melt solvents include polyethylene glycols, derivatives of polyethylene oxides (e.g., oleate ester), beeswax, monostearin and high dielectric constant compounds having --SO₂ -- and/or --CO-- group described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,675; polar compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,959; and 1,10-decanediol, methyl anisate and biphenyl suberate described in Research Disclosure 26-28 (December 1976). The hot-melt solvent is preferably used in an amount of from 0.5 to 50% by weight, and more preferably from 1 to 20% by weight, based on the total solid content of the light-sensitive layer.

The thermal polymerization initiators employable in the light-sensitive material preferably are compounds that are decomposed under heating to generate a polymerization initiating species, particularly a radical, and those commonly employed as initiators of radical polymerization. The thermal polymerization initiators are described in "Addition Polymerization and Ring Opening Polymerization", 6-18, edited by the Editorial Committee of High Polymer Experimental Study of the High Polymer Institute, published by Kyoritsu Shuppan (1983). Examples of the thermal polymerization initiators include azo compounds, e.g., azobisisobutyronitrile, 1,1'-azobis(1-cyclohexanecarbonitrile), dimethyl 2,2'-azobisisobutyrate, 2,2'-azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile), and azobisdimethylvaleronitrile; organic peroxides, e.g., benzoyl peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and cumene hydroperoxide; inorganic peroxides, e.g., hydrogen peroxide, potassium persulfate, and ammonium persulfate; and sodium p-toluenesulfinate. The thermal polymerization initiators are preferably used in an amount of from 0.1 to 120% by weight, and more preferably from 1 to 10% by weight, based on amount of the mixture of the polymerizable compounds. In a system in which the polymerizable compound within the area where the latent image has not been formed is polymerized, the thermal polymerization initiators are preferably incorporated into the light-sensitive layer. The light-sensitive material employing the thermal polymerization initiators is described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-260241.

The development stopping agents employable in the light-sensitive material are compounds that neutralize a base or react with a base to reduce the base concentration in the layer to thereby stop development, or compounds that mutually react with silver or a silver salt to suppress development. More specifically, examples of the development stopping agents include acid precursors capable of releasing acids upon heating electrophilic compounds capable of undergoing substitution reaction with a coexisting base upon heating, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, mercapto compounds, and the like. Examples of the acid precursors include oxide esters described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 60(1985)-108837 and 60(1985)-192939 and compounds which release acids through Lossen rearrangement described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 60(1985)-230133. Examples of the electrophilic compounds which induce substitution reaction with bases upon heating are described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 60(1985)-230134.

The antismudging agnets employable in the light-sensitive material preferably are particles which are solid at ambient temperatures. Examples of the antismudging agents include starch particles described in U.K. Pat. No. 1,232,347; polymer particles described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,736; microcapsule particles containing no color former described in U.K. Pat. No. 1,235,991; and cellulose particles, and inorganic particles, such as particles of talc, kaolin, bentonite, agalmatolite, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or alumina described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,375. Such particles preferably have a mean size of 3 to 50 μm, more preferably 5 to 40 μm. When the microcapsule is employed in the light-sensitive material, the size of said particle is preferably larger than that of the microcapsule.

Binders employable in the light-sensitive material preferably are transparent or semi-transparent hydrophilic binders. Examples of the binders include natural substances, such as gelatin, gelatin derivatives, cellulose derivatives, starch, and gum arabic; and synthetic polymeric substances, such as water-soluble polyvinyl compounds e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and acrylamide polymers. In addition to the synthetic polymeric substances, vinyl compounds dispersed in the form of latex, which are particularly effective to increase dimensional stability of photographic materials, can be also used. These binders can be used singly or in combination. The light-sensitive material employing a binder is described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-69062.

Examples and usage of the other optional components which can be contained in the light-sensitive layer are also described in the above-mentioned publications and applications concerning the light-sensitive material, and in Research Disclosure Vol. 170, No. 17029, 9-15 (June 1978).

Examples of auxiliary layers which are optionally arranged on the light-sensitive material include an image-receiving layer, a heating layer, an antistatic layer, an anticurl layer and a release layer.

Instead of the use of the image-receiving material, the image-receiving layer can be arranged on the light-sensitive material to produce the desired image on the image-receiving layer of the light-sensitive material. The image-receiving layer of the light-sensitive material can be constructed in the same manner as the layer of the image-receiving material.

Examples and usage of the other auxiliary layers are also described in the above-mentioned publications and applications concerning the light-sensitive material.

The light-sensitive material can be prepared, for instance, by the following process.

The light-sensitive material is usually prepared by dissolving, emulsifying or dispersing each of the components of the light-sensitive layer in an adequate medium to obtain coating solution, and then coating the obtained coating solution on a support.

The coating solution can be prepared by mixing liquid compositions each containing a component of the light-sensitive layer. Liquid composition containing two or more components may be also used in the preparation of the coating solution. Some components of the light-sensitive layer can be directly added to the coating solution or the liquid composition. Further, a secondary composition can be prepared by emulsifying the oily (or aqueous) composition in an aqueous (or oily) medium to obtain the coating solution.

The silver halide is preferably prepared in the form of a silver halide emulsion. Various processes for the preparation of the silver halide emulsion are known in the conventional technology for the preparation of photographic materials.

The silver halide emulsion can be prepared by the acid process, neutral process or ammonia process. In the stage for the preparation, a soluble silver salt and a halogen salt can be reacted in accordance with the single jet process, double jet process or a combination thereof. A reverse mixing method, in which grains are formed in the presence of excess silver ions, or a controlled double jet process, in which a pAg value is maintained constant, can be also employed. In order to accelerate grain growth, the concentrations or amounts or the silver salt and halogen salt to be added or the rate of their addition can be increased as described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 55(1980)-142329 and 55(1980)-158124, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,757, etc.

The silver halide emulsion may be of a surface latent image type that forms a latent image predominantly on the surface of silver halide grains, or of an inner latent image type that forms a latent image predominantly in the interior of the grains. A direct reversal emulsion comprising an inner latent image type emulsion and a nucleating agent may be employed. The inner latent image type emulsion suitable for this purpose is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,592,250 and 3,761,276, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58(1983)-3534 and Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 57(1982)-136641, etc. The nucleating agent that is preferably used in combination with the inner latent image type emulsion is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,227,552, 4,245,037, 4,255,511, 4,266,013 and 4,276,364, and West German Patent Provisional Publication (OLS) No. 2,635,316.

In the preparation of the silver halide emulsions, hydrophilic colloids are advantageously used as protective colloids. Examples of usable hydrophilic colloids include proteins, e.g., gelatin, gelatin derivatives, gelatin grafted with other polymers, albumin, and casein; cellulose derivatives, e.g., hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose sulfate, etc.; saccharide derivatives, e.g., sodium alginate and starch derivatives; and a wide variety of synthetic hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol partial acetal, poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinylimidazole, and polyvinylpyrazole, and copolymers comprising monomers constituting these homopolymers. Among them, gelatin is most preferred. Examples of employable gelatins include not only lime-processed gelatin, but also acid-processed gelatin and enzyme-processed gelatin. Hydrolysis products or enzymatic decomposition products of gelatin can also be used.

In the formation of silver halide grains in the silver halide emulsion, ammonia, an organic thioether derivative as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 47(1972)-11386 or sulfur-containing compound as described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 53(1978)-144319 can be used as a silver halide solvent. Further, in the grain formation or physical ripening, a cadmium salt, a zinc salt, a lead salt, a thallium salt, or the like can be introduced into the reaction system. Furthermore, for the purpose of improving high or low intensity reciprocity law failure, a water-soluble iridium salt, e.g., iridium (III) or (IV) chloride, or ammonium hexachloroiridate, or a water-soluble rhodium salt, e.g., rhodium chloride can be used.

After the grain formation or physical ripening, soluble salts may be removed from the resulting emulsion by a known noodle washing method or a sedimentation method. The silver halide emulsion may be used in the primitive condition, but is usually subjected to chemical sensitization. Chemical sensitization can be carried out by the sulfur sensitization, reduction sensitization or noble metal sensitization, or a combination thereof that are known for emulsions for the preparation of the conventional light-sensitive materials.

When the sensitizing dyes are added to the silver halide emulsion, the sensitizing dye is preferably added during the preparation of the emulsion. When the organic silver salts are introduced in the light-sensitive microcapsule, the emulsion of the organic silver salts can be prepared in the same manner as in the preparation of the silver halide emulsion.

In preparation of the light-sensitive material, the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is used as the medium for preparation of the liquid composition containing another component of the light-sensitive layer. For example, the silver halide, including the silver halide emulsion), the reducing agent, or the color image forming substance can be dissolved, emulsified or dispersed in the mixture of the polymerizable compounds to prepare the light-sensitive material. Especially, the color image forming substance is preferably incorporated in the mixture of the polymerizable compounds. Further, the necessary components for preparation of the microcapsule, such as shell material can be incorporated into the mixture of the polymerizable compounds.

The light-sensitive composition which is the mixture of the polymerizable compounds containing the silver halide can be prepared using the silver halide emulsion. The light-sensitive composition can be also prepared using silver halide powders which can be prepared by lyophilization. These light-sensitive composition can be obtained by stirring the mixture of the polymerizable compounds and the silver halide using a homogenizer, a blender, a mixer or other conventional stirring device.

Polymers having a principal chain consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon chain substituted in part with hydrophilic groups which contain, in their terminal groups, --OH or nitrogen having a lone electron-pair are preferably introduced into the mixture of the polymerizable compounds prior to the preparation of the light-sensitive composition. The polymer has a function of dispersing silver halide or other component in the mixture of the polymerizable compounds very uniformly as well as a function of keeping thus dispered state. Further, the polymer has another function of gathering silver halide along the interface between the polymerizable compound (i.e., light-sensitive composition) and the aqueous medium in preparation of the microcapsule. Therefore, using this polymer, silver halide can be easily introduced into the shell material of the microcapsule.

The mixture of the polymerizable compounds (including the light-sensitive composition) are preferably emulsified in an aqueous medium to prepare the coating solution. The necessary components for preparation of the microcapsule, such as shell material ca be incorporated into the emulsion. Further, other components such as the reducing agent can be added to the emulsion.

The emulsion of the mixture of the polymerizable compounds can be processed for forming shell of the microcapsule. Examples of the process for the preparation of the microcapsules include a process utilizing coacervation of hydrophilic wall-forming materials as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,800,457 and 2,800,458; an interfacial polymerization process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,154, U.K. Pat. No. 990,443 and Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 38(1963)-19574, 42(1967)-446 and 42(1967)-771; a process utilizing precipitation of polymers as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,418,250 and 3,660,304; a process of using isocyanate-polyol wall materials as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,669; a process of using isocyanate wall materials as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,511; a process of using urea-formaldehyde or urea-formaldehyde-resorcinol wall-forming materials as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,001,140, 4,087,376 and 4,089,802; a process of using melamine-formaldehyde resins hydroxypropyl cellulose or like wall-forming materials as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,455; an in situ process utilizing polymerization of monomers as described in U.K. Pat. No. 867,797 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,140; an electrolytic dispersion and cooling process as described in U.K. Pat. Nos. 952,807 and 965,074; a spray-drying process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,111,407 and U.K. Pat. No. 930,422; and the like. It is preferable, though not limitative, that the microcapsule is prepared by emulsifying core materials containing the mixture of the polymerizable compounds and forming a polymeric membrane (i.e., shell) over the core materials.

When the emulsion of the mixture of the polymerizable compounds (including the dispersion of the microcapsule) has been prepared by using the light-sensitive composition, the emulsion can be used as the coating solution of the light-sensitive material. The coating solution can be also prepared by mixing the emulsion of the polymerizable compound and the silver halide emulsion.

A light-sensitive metarial can be prepared by coating and drying the above-prepared coating solution on a support in the conventional manner.

The imagewise exposure of the light-sensitive material, the development process and the transference of the unpolymerized mixture of the polymerizable compounds are described below.

Various exposure means can be employed in the imagewise exposure, and in general, the latent image on the silver halide is obtained by imagewise exposure to radiation including visible light. The type of light source and exposure conditions can be selected depending on the light-sensitive wavelengths determined by spectral sensitization or sensitivity of silver halide. Original image can be either monochromatic image or color image.

Development of the light-sensitive material can be conducted simultaneously with or after the imagewise exposure. The development can be conducted using a developing solution in the same manner as the image forming method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 45(1970)-11149. The image forming method described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-69062 which employs a heat development process has an advantage of simple procedures and short processing time because of the dry process. Thus, the latter method is preferred as the development process of the light-sensitive material.

Heating in the heat development process can be conducted in various known manners. The heating temperature for the development process usually ranges from 80° C. to 200° C., and preferably from 100° C. to 160° C. Various heating patterns are applicable. The heating time is usually from 1 second to 5 minutes, and preferably from 5 seconds to 1 minute.

During the above development process, a mixture of the polymerizable compounds within tha area where a latent image of the silver halide has been formed or within the area where a latent image of the silver halide has not been formed is polymerized. In a general system, the mixture of the polymerizable compounds within the area where the latent image has been formed is polymerized. If the nature or amount of the reducing agent is controlled, the mixture of the polymerizable compounds within the area where the latent image has not been formed can be polymerized in the same manner as the light-sensitive material described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-260241.

After the development process, pressing the light-sensitive material on an image-receiving material to transfer the unpolymerized mixture of the polymerizable compounds to the image-receiving material, a polymer image can be obtained in the image-receiving material. The process for pressing can be carried out in various known manners. The pressure in the process for pressing preferably ranges from 50 kg/cm² to 1,000 kg/cm², more preferably ranges from 100 kg/cm² to 700 kg/cm².

In the case that the light-sensitive layer contains a color image forming substance, the color image forming substance is fixed by polymerization of the polymerizable compound. Then, pressing the light-sensitive material on image-receiving material to transfer the color image forming substance within the unfixed area, a color image can be produced on the image-receiving material.

The image-receiving material is described hereinbelow. The image forming method employing the image-receiving material or the image-receiving layer is described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 61(1986)-278849.

Examples of the material employable as the support of the image-receiving material include glass, paper, fine paper, coat paper, synthetic paper, baryta paper, metals and analogues thereof, polyester, acetyl cellulose, cellulose ester, polyvinyl acetal, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, and paper laminated with resin or polymer (e.g., polyethylene).

The image-receiving material is usually prepared by providing the image-receiving layer on the support. The image-receiving layer can be constructed according to the color formation system. In the cases that a polymer image is formed on the image-receiving material and that a dye or pigment is employed as the color image forming substance, the image-receiving material be composed of a simple support.

For example, when a color formation system using a color former and developer is employed, the developer can be contained in the image-receiving layer. Further, the image-receiving layer can be composed of at least one layer containing a mordant. The mordant can be selected from the compounds known in the art of the conventional photography according to the kind of the color image forming substance. If desired, the image-receiving layer can be composed of two or more layers containing two or more mordants different in the mordanting power from each other.

The image-receiving layer preferably contains a polymer as binder. The binder which may be employed in the above-mentioned light-sensitive layer is also employable in the image-receiving layer.

The image-receiving layer can be composed of two or more layers according to the above-mentioned functions. The thickness of the image-receiving layer preferably ranges from 1 to 100 μm, more preferably from 1 to 20 μm.

The image-forming method can be used for monochromatic or color photography, printing, radiography, diagnosis (e.g., CRT photography of diagnostic device using supersonic wave), copy (e.g., computer-graphic hard copy), etc.

The present invention is further described by the following examples without limiting the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of silver halide emulsion

In 3 l of water were dissolved 40 g of gelatin and 23.8 g of potassium bromide and the resulting gelatin solution was kept at 50° C. To the gelatin solution, 200 ml of an aqueous solution containing 34 g of silver nitrate was added over a period of 15 minutes while stirring. To the solution, 100 ml of an aqueous solution containing 3.3 g of potassium iodide was added over a period of 2 minutes to obtain a silver bromoiodide emulsion. After the emulsion was adjusted to a pH for sedimentation, excess salts were removed, and the emulsion was adjusted to a pH of 6.0. The yield of the emulsion was 400 g.

Preparation of light-sensitive composition

In a mixture of 66.7 g of trimethylolpropane triacrylate and 33.3 g of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (mixture of polymerizable compounds (a)) were dissolved 0.40 g of the following copolymer and 6.00 g of Pargascript Red I-6-B (tradename, Chiba-Geigy). ##STR1##

To 18.0 g of the resulting solution were added 0.25 g of the following reducing agent (I), 1.22 g of the following reducing agent (II), 0.20 g of 1% ethyl acetate solution of the following antifogging agent and 0.36 g of Emulex NP-8 (tradename, produced by Nippon Emulsion Co., Ltd.). To the mixture was further added 1.80 g of methylene chloride, and the resulting mixture was made uniform. ##STR2##

Further, to the resulting solution was added 4.06 of the silver halide emulsion. The resulting mixture was stirred at 18,000 r.p.m. for 3 min. using a homogenizer to obtain a light-sensitive composition.

Preparation of light-sensitive microcapsule

To 10.51 g of 18.6% aqueous solution of Isobam (tradename, Kuraray Co., Ltd.) was added 48.56 g of 2.89% aqueous solution of pectin. After the solution was adjusted to a pH of 4.0 using 10% solution of sulfuric acid, the light-sensitive composition was added to the resulting solution, and the mixture was stirred at 7,000 r.p.m. for 2 min. using a homogenizer to emulsify the light-sensitive composition in the aqueous medium.

To 72.5 g of the aqueous emulsion were added 8.32 g of 40% aqueous solution of urea, 2.82 g of 11.3% aqueous solution of resorcinol, 8.56 g of 37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde, and 2.74 g of 8.76% aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate in this order, and the mixture was heated at 60° C. for 2 hours while stirring. After the mixture was adjusted to a pH of 7.0 using 10% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, 3.62 g of 30.9% aqueous solution of sodium hydrogen sulfite was added to the mixture to obtain a dispersion containing light-sensitive microcapsules.

Preparation of light-sensitive material

To 10.0 g of the light-sensitive microcapsule dispersion were added 1.0 g of 10% aqueous solution of Emulex NP-8 (tradename, Nippon Emulsion Co., Ltd.) and a solution of 3.5 g of guanidine trichloroacetate in 3.3 g of ethanol and 6.7 g of water to prepare a coating solution. The coating solution was uniformly coated on a polyethylene terephthalate film (thickness: 100 μm) using a coating rod of #20 to a wet thickness of 35 μm and air-dried at room temperature to obtain a light-sensitive material (A).

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of light-sensitive material

Each of the light-sensitive materials (B) to (E) was respectively prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that each of the following mixture of the polymerizable compounds (b) to (e) was used in place of the mixture of 66.7 g of trimethylolpropane triacrylate and 33.3 g of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (mixture of polymerizable compounds (a)).

    ______________________________________                                         Mixture of polymerizable compounds (b)                                         Trimethylolpropane triacrylate                                                                         85.0 g                                                 1,6-Hexanediol diacrylate                                                                               8.0 g                                                 Tripropyleneglycol diacrylate                                                                           7.0 g                                                 Mixture of polymerizable compounds (c)                                         Pentaerythritol tetraacrylate                                                                          80.0 g                                                 Diacrylate of polyoxyethylenated                                                                       20.0 g                                                 bisphenol A                                                                    Mixture of polymerizable compounds (d)                                         Triacrylate of polyoxyethylenated                                                                      75.0 g                                                 trimethylolpropane                                                             Nonylphenyloxyethyl acrylate                                                                           25.0 g                                                 Mixture of polymerizable compounds (e)                                         Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate                                                                         30.0 g                                                 Tripropylene glycol diacrylate                                                                         40.0 g                                                 Trimethylolpropane triacrylate                                                                         30.0 g                                                 ______________________________________                                    

COMPARISON EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of light-sensitive material

Each of the light-sensitive materials (X) to (Z) was respectively prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 100 g of each of the following polymerizable compounds (x) to (z) was used in place of the mixture of 66.7 g of trimethylolpropane triacrylate and 33.3 g of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (mixture of polymerizable compounds (a)).

    ______________________________________                                         (x)          Trimethylolpropane triacrylate                                    (y)          Pentaerythritol tetraacrylate                                     (z)          1,6-Hexanediol diacrylate                                         ______________________________________                                    

Preparation of image-receiving material

To 125 g of water was added 11 g of 40% aqueous solution of sodium hexametaphosphate, and were further added 34 g of zinc 3,5-di-α-methylbenzylsalicylate and 82 g of 55% aqueous slurry of calcium carbonate, followed by coarsely dispersing in a mixer. The coarse dispersion was then finely dispersed in Dynomile dispersing device. To 200 g of the resulting dispersion were added 6 g of 50% latex of SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) and 55 g of 8% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol, and the resulting mixture was made homogenous.

The mixture was then uniformly coated on a art paper having a basis weight of 43 g/m² to give a layer having a wet thickness of 30 μm and dried to obtain an image-receiving material.

Image-formation on image-receiving material

Each of the light-sensitive materials prepared in Examples 1 & 2 and Comparison Example 2 was imagewise exposed to light through a wedge filter in which the density continuously changed from 0 to 5.0, using a tungsten lamp at 2,000 lux for 1 second and then heated on a hot plate at 125° C. for 20 seconds. Each of the exposed and heated light-sensitive material was then combined with the image-receiving material and passed through press rolls under pressure of 300 kg/cm² to obtain a magenta positive image on the image-receiving material. The maximum density and the minimum density of the obtained image were measured using Macbeth reflection densitometer.

Further, each of the light-sensitive materials was fully exposed to light using a tungsten lamp at 2,000 lux for 1 second and then heated as mentioned above. Each of the light-sensitive material was then combined with the image-receiving material and passed through press rolls as mentioned above to obtain a magenta color on the whole surface of the image-receiving material. The spot which has a difference of the density of not less than 0.4 from the other area and a diameter of not less than 1 mm on the surface of the image-receiving layer was observed with the naked eye.

The results are set forth in Table 1. In Table 1, "Evenness of Density" was evaluated as following grades: A (the ratio of the area of the above spot to the whole surface of the image receiving layer is about 0%), B (the ratio is 5-10%) and C (the ratio is not less than 10%)

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Light-  Polymerizable                                                                              Transferred Image                                                                              Evenness                                   Sensitive                                                                              Compound or Maximum   Minimum of                                       Material                                                                               Mixture thereof                                                                            Density   Density Density                                  ______________________________________                                         (A)     (a)         1.01      0.13    A                                        (B)     (b)         0.93      0.18    A                                        (C)     (c)         0.97      0.11    B                                        (D)     (d)         0.96      0.14    A                                        (E)     (e)         0.88      0.09    B                                        (X)     (x)         1.13      0.15    C                                        (Y)     (y)         0.86      0.07    C                                        (Z)     (z)         0.96      0.88    B                                        ______________________________________                                    

It is apparent from the result in Table 1 that each of the light-sensitive materials (A) to (E) employing a mixture of the polymerizable compounds gives a clear image having a high maximum density and a low minimum density and reduced in the occurrence of the unevenness of the density.

On the other hand, each of the light-sensitive materials (X) to (Z) employing one kind of the polymerizable compound gives an image in which the density is uneven (X and Y) or an image having a high minimum density (Z). 

I claim:
 1. An image-forming method which comprises:imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material comprising a support and a light-sensitive layer containing silver halide, a reducing agent and a mixture of polymerizable compounds having at least one ethylenic unsaturated group to form a latent image of the silver halide; simultaneously or thereafter developing the light-sensitive material to polymerize the mixture of the polymerizable compounds within the area where the latent image of the silver halide has been formed; and pressing the light-sensitive material on an image-receiving material to transfer the unpolymerized mixture of the polymerizable compounds to the image-receiving material, wherein 40-90 weight % of the mixture comprises a polymerizable compound having 2-4 ethylenic unsaturated groups, and the remaining 10 to 60 weight % of the mixture comprises a polymerizable compound having five or more ethylenic unsaturated groups.
 2. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the development is done by a heat development process.
 3. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material further contains a color image forming substance.
 4. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is dispersed in the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material in the form of oil droplets, and the silver halide is contained in the oil droplets.
 5. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is contained in microcapsules which are dispersed in the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material, and the silver halide is contained in the microcapsules.
 6. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is contained in the light-sensitive layer in an amount of from 5 to 1.2×10⁵ times by weight as much as amount of the silver halide.
 7. An image-forming method which comprises:imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material comprising a support and a light-sensitive layer containing silver halide, a reducing agent and a mixture of polymerizable compounds having at least one ethylenic unsaturated group to form a latent image of the silver halide; simultaneously or thereafter developing the light-sensitive material to polymerize the mixture of the polymerizable compounds within the area where the latent image of the silver halide has not been formed; and pressing the light-sensitive material on an image-receiving material to transfer the unpolymerized mixture of the polymerizable compounds to the image-receiving material.
 8. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the development is done by a heat development process.
 9. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 7, wherein 40 to 90 weight % of the mixture comprises a polymerizable compound having 2-4 ethylenic unsaturated groups.
 10. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the remaining 10 to 60 weight % of the mixture comprises a polymerizable compound having five or more ethylenic unsaturated groups.
 11. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material further contains a color image forming substance.
 12. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is dispersed in the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material in the form of oil droplets, and the silver halide is contained in the oil droplets.
 13. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is contained in microcapsules which are dispersed in the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material, and the silver halide is contained in the microcapsules.
 14. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mixture of the polymerizable compounds is contained in the light-sensitive layer in an amount of from 5 to 1.2×10⁵ times by weight as much as amount of the silver halide.
 15. The image-forming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixture of the polymerizable compound is contained in microcapsules which are dispersed in the light-sensitive layer of the light-sensitive material, and the silver halide is contained in the microcapsules, the shell of said microcapsules being made of urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde resin. 